The impact of Fidel Castro’s death

On November 25, 2016, a controversial Cuban politician, revolutionary, dictator, prime minister, and President of Cuba, Fidel Castro, died. Castro was a very influential leader for the Cubans, being a part of their lives for an entire generation. Castro acted as Cuba’s Prime Minister for 47 years, and their President from 1976 to 2006.

In a nationally televised statement, Fidel Castro’s brother, Raul Castro, announced to the world the news. “I say to the people of Cuba, with profound pain I come here to inform our people, our friends of America and the world, that today, 25 November, 2016, at 10:29 pm, died the chief commander of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz.”

Beginning on Saturday, November 26, 2016, Cuba began a national nine-day mourning period; a time dedicated to pay respects to the late leader. It’s been reported that the Cuban flag will be flown at half mast in all public and military establishments during this period, and all broadcastings will be of patriotic and historical programming.

image from pri.org

The people of Cuba have decorated their country with posters of Castro, and flowers for Castro, including at a statue of Castro located at the university Castro attended 70 years ago.

About 90 miles away, the Havannah neighborhood, in Florida, erupted with jubilee at the announcement of Fidel Castro’s death. The small neighborhood is home to many American-Cubans that fled from Castro’s regime. These exiles popped champagne bottles, waved Cuban flags, and chanted “Satan, Fidel is now yours.”

image from telegraph.co.uk

An American-Cuban told CNN, “This is a celebration, but not a celebration of death, but a beginning of liberty that we’ve been waiting for many years. The hope is … that it opens up Cuba a little bit more.”

“People are optimistic that this will usher in a new opportunity for freedom and democracy,” Ros-Lehtinen said on the TODAY Show. “He’s a man who executed a lot of family members of my constituency, imprisoned so many of them … as long as there’s a Castro in power, there’s not much hope for change.”

U.S. Representative, Lleana Ros-Lehtinen said on NBC’s the TODAY Show, “People are optimistic that this will usher in a new opportunity for freedom and democracy… He’s a man who executed a lot of family members of my constituency, imprisoned so many of them … as long as there’s a Castro in power, there’s not much hope for change.”